Assessment of Pediatric Telemedicine Using Remote Physical Examinations With a Mobile Medical Device: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

Importance: The number of innovations in health care based on the use of platforms, digital devices, apps, and artificial intelligence has grown exponentially in recent years. When used correctly, these technologies allow inequities in access to health care to be addressed by optimizing care and reducing social and geographic barriers. However, most of the technological health care solutions proposed have not undergone rigorous clinical studies. Objective: To assess the concordance between measurements from a remote physical examination using a mobile medical device and measurements from a conventional in-person physical examination. Design, Setting, and Participants: This nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted from January 1 to December 31, 2020. The clinical parameters compared were heart rate; body temperature; heart, lung, and abdominal auscultation; otoscopy; throat and oral examination; and skin examination. A total of 690 patients with clinical stability and various symptoms who were seen in the emergency department of 2 Brazilian pediatric hospitals were eligible to enter this study. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was concordance between measurements from a telemedicine physical examination using a mobile medical device and measurements from a conventional in-person physical examination. The secondary outcome was the specificity and sensitivity of the digital device, considering the conventional in-person consultation as the gold standard. Results: Among 690 patients, the median (IQR) age at study entry was 5 (1-9) years; 348 (50.4%) were female, and 331 (48.0%) presented with a chronic disease. Regarding the primary outcome, the concordance values were 90% or greater for skin examination (94% for rash, 100% for hemorrhagic suffusion, and 95% for signs of secondary infection), characteristics of the mucosa (98% for hydration and 97% for coloring), and heart (95% for murmur, 97% for rhythms, and 98% for sounds), lung (91% for adventitious sounds, 97% for vesicular sounds, and 90% for fever), and abdominal (92% for abdominal sounds) auscultations. Concordance values were lower for otoscopy (72% for the ear canal and 86% for the tympanic membrane), throat and oral examination (72%), and rhinoscopy (79% for mucosa and 81% for secretion). The specificity was greater than 70% (ranging from 74.5% for the ear canal to 99.7% for hemorrhagic suffusion) for all variables. The sensitivity was greater than 52% for skin examination (58.0% for rash and 54.8% for signs of secondary infection), throat and oral examination (52.7%), and otoscopy (66.1% for the ear canal and 64.4% for the tympanic membrane). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, measurements from remote physical examination with a mobile medical device had satisfactory concordance with measurements from in-person physical examination for otoscopy, throat and oral examination, skin examination, and heart and lung auscultation, with limitations regarding heart and lung auscultation in infants and abdominal auscultation in children of all ages. Measurements from remote physical examination via a mobile medical device were comparable with those from in-person physical examination in children older than 2 years. These findings suggest that telemedicine may be an alternative to in-person examination in certain contexts and may help to optimize access to health care services and reduce social and geographic barriers. Trial Registration: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials Identifier: RBR-346ymn.

Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt diagnosed during intrauterine life / Shunt portossistêmico congênito intra-hepático diagnosticado na vida intrauterina

Abstract Objective: To report a patient with prenatal diagnosis of portosystemic shunt; a rare condition in humans. Case description: 17-Day-old female infant admitted for investigation of suspected diagnosis of portosystemic shunt, presumed in obstetric ultrasound. The hypothesis was confirmed after abdominal angiography and liver Doppler. Other tests such as echocardiography and electroencephalogram were performed to investigate possible co-morbidities or associated complications, and were normal. We chose conservative shunt treatment, as there were no disease-related complications and this was intrahepatic shunt, which could close spontaneously by the age of 2 years. Comments: Portosystemic shunt can lead to various complications such as hepatic encephalopathy, hypergalactosemia, liver tumors, and hepatopulmonary syndrome. Most diagnoses are done after one month of age, after such complications occur. The prenatal diagnosis of this patient provided greater security for the clinical picture management, as well as regular monitoring, which allows the anticipation of possible complications and perform interventional procedures when needed.

Resumo Objetivo: Descrever a história clínica de paciente com diagnóstico pré-natal de shunt portossistêmico, condição rara na espécie humana. Descrição do caso: Recém-nascido do sexo feminino internada aos 17 dias para investigação de suspeita diagnóstica de shunt portossistêmico, aventada na ecografia obstétrica. A hipótese foi confirmada após angiotomografia do abdome e ecodoppler hepático. Outros exames, como ecocardiograma e eletroencefalograma, foram feitos para investigação de possíveis comorbidades ou complicações associadas e tiveram resultados normais. Optou-se por tratamento conservador do shunt, já que não havia quaisquer complicações relacionadas à doença e tratava-se de shunt intra-hepático, que pode fechar espontaneamente até os dois anos de idade. Comentários: O shunt portossistêmico pode levar a diversas complicações, como encefalopatia hepática, hipergalactosemia, tumores hepáticos e síndrome hepatopulmonar. A maioria dos diagnósticos é feita a partir de um mês de vida, após tais complicações ocorrerem. O diagnóstico pré-natal dessa paciente possibilitou maior segurança para o manejo do quadro, bem como um acompanhamento periódico que permite antecipar possíveis complicações e adotar conduta intervencionista, se necessário.

Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt diagnosed during intrauterine life. / Shunt portossistêmico congênito intra-hepático diagnosticado na vida intrauterina.

OBJECTIVE: To report a patient with prenatal diagnosis of portosystemic shunt; a rare condition in humans. CASE DESCRIPTION: 17-day-old female infant admitted for investigation of suspected diagnosis of portosystemic shunt, presumed in obstetric ultrasound. The hypothesis was confirmed after abdominal angiography and liver Doppler. Other tests such as echocardiography and electroencephalogram were performed to investigate possible co-morbidities or associated complications, and were normal. We chose conservative shunt treatment, as there were no disease-related complications and this was intrahepatic shunt, which could close spontaneously by the age of 2 years. COMMENTS: Portosystemic shunt can lead to various complications such as hepatic encephalopathy, hypergalactosemia, liver tumors, and hepatopulmonary syndrome. Most diagnoses are done after one month of age, after such complications occur. The prenatal diagnosis of this patient provided greater security for the clinical picture management, as well as regular monitoring, which allows the anticipation of possible complications and perform interventional procedures when needed.

Update on endoscopic diagnosis, management and surveillance strategies of esophageal diseases.

In the last few decades, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy has become the most complementary test for investigation of esophageal diseases. Its accessibility and safety guarantee wide clinical utilization in patients with suspected benign and malignant diseases of the esophagus. Recent technological advances in endoscopic imaging and tissue analysis obtained from the esophagus have been useful to better understand and manage highly relevant diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, eosinophilic esophagitis and esophageal cancer. Using endoscopy to elucidate esophageal disorders in children has been another field of intensive and challenging research. This editorial highlights the latest advances in the endoscopic management of esophageal diseases, and focuses on Barrett's esophagus, esophageal cancer, eosinophilic esophagitis, as well as esophageal disorders in the pediatric population.